Integrated coastal zone management in Spain Report by Spain in fulfilment of the requirements of Chapter VI of the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe. Index Foreword........................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 One coastline with different sides........................................................................... 5 1.2 The Mediterranean coast......................................................................................... 7 1.2.1 The Mediteranean coast of Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia........................... 7 1.2.2 The Mediterranean coast of Andalusia ............................................................ 7 1.3 The Atlantic coast ................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Cantabria and Galicia....................................................................................... 7 1.3.2 The South-Atlantic coast of Andalusia............................................................ 8 1.4 The archipelagos ..................................................................................................... 8 1.4.1 The Canary Islands .......................................................................................... 8 1.4.2 The Balearic Islands......................................................................................... 9 1.5 The concept of Public Domain: historical background and origins........................ 9 2. The situation today...................................................................................................... 11 2.1 Environmental problems....................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Occupation of the coastline by urban development....................................... 11 2.1.2 Alteration of coastal dynamics ...................................................................... 13 2.1.3 Reduction in the quality of water bodies ....................................................... 14 2.1.4 Ecosystem and habitat degradation................................................................ 15 2.1.5 Environmental risks on the coast ................................................................... 16 2.1.6 Loss and degradation of coastal landscapes................................................... 17 2.2 Socioeconomic problems...................................................................................... 19 2.2.1 Urbanistic and tourism trends and perspectives............................................. 19 2.2.2 Fishing and aquaculture................................................................................. 21 2.2.3 Nautical sports ............................................................................................... 22 2.2.4 Maritime transport ......................................................................................... 23 2.2.5 Regional development ................................................................................... 25 2.2.6 New challenges .............................................................................................. 26 2.3 Considerations on the legal and administrative framework.................................. 28 2.3.1 Preservation of the Public Domain ................................................................ 28 2.3.2 Competences and responsibilities.................................................................. 28 2.3.3 Administrative coordination .......................................................................... 30 2.3.4 Cross-border cooperation............................................................................... 31 3 National stocktaking .................................................................................................... 32 3.1 Development of the stocktaking ........................................................................... 32 3.2 Main Stakeholders, Laws and Institutions............................................................ 34 3.2.1 Institutions ..................................................................................................... 35 3.2.2 Businesses...................................................................................................... 38 3.2.3 NGOs ............................................................................................................. 39 3.2.4 Laws............................................................................................................... 40 3.2.5 Inter-regional cooperation structures ............................................................. 41 3.2.6 Perceived importance of the different sector and problems........................... 42 4 Spain’s ICZM Strategy ................................................................................................ 46 4.1 Strategic objectives ............................................................................................... 46 1 4.2 Specific objectives ................................................................................................ 46 4.3 Initiatives, measures and instruments ................................................................... 48 4.3.1 Master Plan for Coastal Sustainability .......................................................... 50 4.3.2 Sustainability Observatory for the Spanish Coast ......................................... 51 4.3.3 Cooperation agreements with coastal regions ............................................... 51 4.3.4 National Coast Council.................................................................................. 53 4.3.5 Purchase of land for protection and restoration ............................................. 53 4.3.6 Support for R&D in coastal areas .................................................................. 54 4.3.7 Education and training and capacity building for coastal managers.............. 54 5 Development of the Strategy and impact evaluation ................................................... 56 5.1 Stages of development .......................................................................................... 56 5.1.1 Strategy Preparation (2002-2005).................................................................. 56 5.1.2 Planning and organisation (2006 -2007)........................................................ 57 5.1.3 Implementation and review (2008 -2010) ..................................................... 58 5.2 Evaluation of the effects of implementation......................................................... 58 5.2.1 Threats ........................................................................................................... 58 5.2.2 Anticpated positive impacts........................................................................... 60 5.2.3 Anticpated negative impacts.......................................................................... 60 5.3 Strategy implementation costs .............................................................................. 61 6 Evaluation of the transposition of European initiatives............................................... 62 6.1 Identification of weaknesses and barriers............................................................. 63 6.2 Prospects for future EU support for ICZM implementation................................. 64 References....................................................................................................................... 65 Annex I Working group on indicators: preliminary results............................................ 66 Annex II Structure of the Stocktake................................................................................ 78 Annex III Contents of the Stocktake............................................................................... 89 2 Foreword Coastal zones are of crucial importance for coastal states today. They are home to the bulk of the population and account for a considerable share of the country’s economic activities. The huge concentration of human activity in this narrow strip has led to rapid degradation of these zones’ rich and important ecosystems and habitats and, as a result, the entire coastal system faces an uncertain future. This delicate situation poses a challenge for coastal states, who must find a way to manage the coastal zone without sacrificing current and future wellbeing and prosperity. The road to successful management of coastal zones is paved with initiatives of different scopes and which have produced different outcomes. In the particular case of Spain, deserving of mention are the 1988 Coast Law and the Regulations subsequently enacted to give effect to the Law, and the first European High-Level Forum on Community Strategies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management, which was held in Villajoyosa in April 2002 during the Spanish Presidency of the EU. At European level the process has already seen the adoption of Recommendation 2002/413/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe. The Recommendation calls on Member States to adopt a strategic approach based on the following objectives: • Protection of the coastal environment based on an ecosystem approach •